Consensus: Stand strong against commercial rezoning at the SW corner of Friendly and Holden

Dr. Luke Johnson is now proposing the same classification of commercial zoning for the single-family-residential lot at the corner of Friendly and Holden Aves., but has redrawn his proposed building plans. They include a 12,000 square foot 2-story office building at the corner where the house currently sits. [[Think 50 feet tall.] The "2nd phase" of proposed construction would be/might be condos running along Holden. That phase is a sketchy rendering. Once the rezoning to commercial is in place--there is always the possibility that the landowner will request approval of different plans/uses for the property. More details available at NoRezoning.org

The 66 attendees of the No Rezoning meeting on Sunday afternoon unanimously agreed not to compromise in the fight to prevent commercial incursion onto the south side of Friendly.

Pricey Harrison, our state house rep attended the meeting and briefly voiced her support. Jon Hardister, who is opposing Harrison in the fall, has sent out a letter of support to those fighting this commercial rezoning.

Valerie Stern, who headed up the last battle against commercial rezoning within our residential neighborhood at the corner of Green Valley and Friendly, urged our group to stand strong--"you can win this."

Long-time Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday stood up from the audience and warned that approval of this commercial rezoning would "not be the end of something, but the beginning." Make no mistake, many eyes in this town are trained on what happens at this corner, he said. [He meant, many eyes in the commercial development community.]

There are more No Rezoning signs available for $10 each. We are hoping to see even more neighbors with signs up as the Sep 13 Zoning Commission meeting approaches. And please write to Zoning Commission members and Town Council members. Note: there are 3 new zoning commission members that need to hear from you. Please visit NoRezoning.org for the updated list & contact info.

If you live on Madison, Homewood, Wedgewood, Dogwood, Kirby, Mistletoe, Edgewater, the Avondales, etc. -- please consider posting a sign to show solidarity. We will all be affected--quality of life, traffic and safety, property values and comparables.

Go to the official No Rezoning Starmount Forest/Hamilton Lakes website

For a complete explanation and photography of the current proposed rezoning situation and how it could adversely affect our community, visit this page of the official website NoRezoning.org.

Dr. Johnson to seek 60-day continuance at July 12 zoning commission meeting

No Rezoning Starmount Forest/Hamilton Lakes was notified that Dr.William Luke Johnson's lawyer, Henry Isaacson of Isaacson Isaacson Sheridan & Fountain, plans to file for a 60-day continuance at the upcoming Greensboro zoning commission meeting on July 12.

Dr. Johnson is requesting that a parcel of land he owns at the corner of Friendly Ave and Holden Rd be rezoned from residential to general office. He plans to build a row of office buildings there, one of which will house his dental practice, another a bank, etc.

Warning: All yard signs must be at least 5 - 10 feet in from the curb

I guess someone is pulling strings at City Hall?

Our group has been informed that if our yard signs impinge on the city's right of way--which is the stretch of ground that reaches 5 to 10 feet in from the curb, they will be removed.

So, move your signs in 10 feet from the curb--to be safe, or the city will have them removed. [I wonder who's volunteering for that duty? Hmmm.]

See what the proposed strip of office buildings looks like

Go to the Fox8 news video here if you'd like to see the strip of tall buildings with surrounding blacktop that Dr. Luke Johnson, a local dentist, is proposing for the lot he owns at the Friendly/Holden corner.

He is being represented by high-powered and influential local attorney Henry Isaacson.

Mark your calendar for the July 12 meeting of the Greensboro zoning commission

... at the Greensboro City Council Chambers.

Meeting begins at 5:30PM.

Directions/location here.

The corner of Friendly & Holden

The struggle continues to prevent office buildings and strip malls from lining the south side of Friendly Avenue in the vicinity of Friendly Center.

The latest is a pending request to rezone the corner of Friendly Avenue and Holden from single family to general office. Technical name is "Conditional District-General Office-Moderate Intensity."

Let's protect the quality of life for all residents of Starmount Forest /Hamilton Lakes. If that corner is rezoned to general office, expect to see a domino effect along Friendly Avenue.

Office buildings encroaching upon a beautiful old neighborhood--when this part of town has a glut of unoccupied office space. Why?

Get on the mailing list and take action to stop this: norezoning@ymail.com